JERUSALEM: Hundreds of Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied city of Jerusalem, the Palestinian News Agency reported on Wednesday.
Approximately 630 Jewish settlers, under the protection of the occupation forces, barged their way into the compound and carried out provocative rituals and tours inside, at a time when the occupation forces denied Palestinians’ access to the old city of Jerusalem and the mosque compound.
The Jewish settlers violated the decades-old status quo which only allows Muslim prayer at the holy site.
Since the onset of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in October 2023, the occupation forces have increased restrictions at the gates of the site and the old city of Jerusalem.
During the same period, over 68,000 Jewish settlers stormed the mosque compound.
Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities have said that Illegal Israeli settlers staged 22 intrusions into the Al Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem last month.
Jewish settlers intensify attacks on Al Aqsa
“The Israeli occupation forces and settlers escalated their attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque in December,” the Awqaf Ministry said in a statement.
“These intrusions aim to create a new reality in the mosque by allowing settlers to perform Jewish religious rituals,” it added.
At least 12 more Palestinians were killed in relentless Israeli attacks in Gaza, bringing the overall death toll since last year to 45,555, the Health Ministry in the enclave has said. A ministry statement added that some 108,379 others were injured in the ongoing assault.
“Israeli forces killed 12 people and injured 41 others in two massacres of families in the last 48 hours,” the ministry said.
“Many people are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added.
